Nokia Drive+ Beta for Windows Phone 8 Updated, power saving added

We contacted Nokia a short while ago to check in on their navigation apps and we were told to expect some updates soon. Today one of the first of the updates has arrived to bring the Nokia Drive+ Beta to version 2.1.

So what’s new? As well as the usual bug fixes they have introduced a better way to manage power consumption. Read on past the break for more details.

We have been using Nokia Drive+ Beta since it first popped up and on the whole have been pleased with its performance. That’s not to say it has been all plain sailing, there have been instances where the map stops updating and the occasional crash here and there. We’re still waiting for Drive on Windows Phone 8 to pick up the much vaunted “My Commute” feature that exists on the Windows Phone 7 version.

Highlights of the update

In the settings menu you’ll now find the Battery Saver option.

“Save battery power between charges with the battery saver. When you switch this on, the app runs in the background, and you’ll hear navigation instructions when being guided along a route. In other cases the GPS will be switched off to reduce power consumption.”

On the main map display, you can return to your present position by clicking on a button to centre the map again. Hardly a drastic UI improvement, but its welcome nonetheless.

After we updated the app we were also prompted to update the voice files for the app which didn’t take too long. We’ll need to test the latest version over the next few days and we hope that the overall stability of the app has improved. Good to see the updates starting to hit for this app, we’re really keen to see this pick up existing features from the Windows Phone 7 version while taking full advantage of Windows Phone 8.

Nokia Drive is one of the crown jewels in their app line up and so we’re expecting great things down the line with this. You can download it from the Nokia Collection on the Windows Phone Store here. Thanks, ryansstuff, for the tip!

Nokia Drive+ is exclusive to Lumia devices. Nokia Drive (no plus) will only become available to other devices if device manufacturers offer it. So far, no one else has said a thing. Two different versions of Nokia Drive, with Nokia Drive+ probably being the best and most fully-featured version only for Lumia devices.

When MS and Nokia announced their partnership to offer Maps and Drive on WP8 I thought it would be great. But honestly, the whole thing has turned into kind of a mess. From a developer perspective, I'm appaled that they tell us to develop against Nokia API's on phone and Bing Map API's on W8. From a user perspective I find Nokia and Bing maps both on the phone and accessible from different methods. Now I see you telling us that Nokia is in fact only releasing a stripped down version of Drive and only for OEM's that actually choose to implement it? WP8/W8 is MS's big shot and they are already screwing it up.

rom a developer's perspective why do you care if the drive + is offered on the 8X. In fact all it means is that third party devs have accces to Nokia's Maps API to build their own navigation apps and make money out of it....

Right, well I have to help clarify the situation a little. Nokia Mapping platform forms the base of Windows Phone 8. “But” that doesn’t mean that Nokia Drive is coming to other devices. What is said is carefully crafted in that Drive “IS” available for other device makers to implement in their phones.

What does this mean? Likely they HTC and others are welcome to licence it from Nokia. There have been no further announcements on this matter. RB

The Garmin StreetPilot app is excellent but cost me $35 in the app store. I prefer the Garmin app (I live in the US) It has a lane preview mode (it will give you a preview of all the interchange lanes ahead and shows which one(s) will keep you on track) This has nothing to do with navigation but I like that when I'm listening to music, the Garmin will reduce volume when speaking; Drive+ cuts the music out completely. It's a little thing but demonstrates the polish in the product.

On a cold Friday afternoon, I had come home from school. I had been thinking of the Windows Phone all day. I was hungry, didn't have any lunch. In fact, I didn't eat because I spent the money. For the past month I was saving up for something. Something special which I bought at Microsoft Store. I was surprised they didn't ask for ID; I was pretty sure the cashier noticed how nervous I was. Anyways, my mom asked my how my day was when I got home, but I ignored her. I have more important things to do. I run to the bathroom and unpack my bag. In my school bag is a white plastic bag from Microsoft. I open the bag, first removing the receipt and flushing it down the toilet to get rid of the evidence. My heart was racing now. I unpack the monster from the bag.

I wonder what Lumia fans will be asking me when they see that I have the HTC 8X. Should I say I got it for free? I remove the label from the box and tear it into a thousand small pieces. I flush that down the toilet, too. It is time now. I run up to my room when my mom ask me what I am holding. I panic, sweat drips down my forehead and my teeth chatter. "Mom, it's just for a school project". "What project?" "I don't know mom I just started it!". A tear runs down my cheek. I run upstairs and turn on the phone. What have I gotten myself into? I enter my Microsoft Account data and hit accept. There is no turning back now. The HTC monster is inside me now, it will control me. What should I do if I die? I can’t let my family know about this.

I take the box and rip it to small pieces, throwing it all out the window; a white cloud of mysterious paper shreds into the wind so graciously. I feel the phone taking control of me; I am now the monster. I walk downstairs, it’s time to sync data; time to finish what I started. Now I worry, I don't want to get too attached to my phone; people will think I am crazy. I am crazy. No I don't. HTC. All I see is the Metro UI now, I am almost downstairs when I hear "Do you want a cookie I just baked". I know I do not have time for this shit now. "No mom I do not want a cookie" I walk in the basement and drop to my knees before the phone, tears running down my cheeks. I turn to the right and look at myself in the mirror. Oh god, what have I done?

OK, after just having installed the Garmin app, I can say it is SO much better than Nokia Maps, and Google Maps (even though it costs $29).
This is the only thing stopping from switching to HTC. I got the Lumia 822 a month ago, because the 920 is temporarily exclusive to AT&T (ugh!). I actually wanted the HTC 8X when I went in, but a salesperson convinced me otherwise because the vaunted Nokia Maps. Big mistake.

I have had so many issues with Nokia Drive not tracking my position well, stopping to track me altogether, and a severe lack of features. I had no idea this amazing Garmin app was available, but now I will be returning this Lumia garbage and switching to HTC 8X!! :)

This isn't to start a flame war so please keep that in mind.
I really want to like Nokie Drive but last week on 3 of the 5 locations, I was guided to the wrong streets. They were all close but most of the time I was in the street behind the neighborhood I needed to be in, and a furniture store I was trying to get to was just completely wrong and said that it was in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Luckily I had Navigon which got me to all my locations without a single hickup.
I do realize that you mileage may vary (pun intended :) ) depending on where you live, but I can say that in Vancouver WA and parts of Portland OR, it's pretty spotty.
I hope these things get fixed, and most importantly I wish MS and Nokia would merge there map data not remove bing maps entirely. Nokia Maps thinks that an old restaruant near my house "Bostons" is there. They've been closed for the better part of 4 years now and it's now an auto parts store.

I did for the first two.... but then I got kind of tired of sending in more and more problems to them. In fact I sent in a problem about a week ago.
I tested out the Nokia Maps for example and typed in Winco (A big grocery store chain in my parts). It is literally across the street from my work. I didn't find it... however If I go to that location manually I have the blue print to that store on maps, I can see the aisle information, where restrooms are, etc.
SERIOUSLY you have that kind of detailed info for my store but you do not mark it on your maps as POI?
I have probably sent in (including the Nokia Drive app) 10 fixes for them. Not one has been updated (although they responded to my email with automated response) and I just got tired of it.
So yes I neglected to say in my initial post that I didn't send in the feedback, but I have done so. I have used Nokia Maps more then drive and I stopped using Maps because it's just not great, or even really close to good.
Again that is in my area, with a population of 165,000.
By the way gMaps is a great alternative as well as Bing's Maping service.

nokia isnt a serach company unfortunately and thats why they need to get MS to power serach in nokia maps at some point just like nokia powers the maps info on bing maps... some day (soon hopefully) search on nokia maps will be on par with bing maps/google maps and then well have fewer complaints

I absolutely love that Microsoft is now using Nokia / Navteq's maps throughout the OS, and I love that Nokia provides a free driving app for their customers. However, Nokia really needs to take a look at their competition. First of all, there is zero reason to have separate applications for Nokia Maps, Nokia City Lens, Nokia Drive, and Nokia Transit / Transport. Those should be tightly integrated into a single program.

More importantly, Nokia needs to go out and buy a standalone TomTom, a standalone Garmin, check out Google Maps on Android (and now iOS), and check Apple's Maps as well, and compare their app against those. Nokia has the CONTENT / the maps correct, but they are missing so much basic functionality that it's completely ridiculous. My Commute is the least of the things that is currently missing.

Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps is quite robust - on the Symbian platform. While I find the both on the Lumia 900 to be acceptable, and I'm looking forward to Nokia implementing the additional features from their Symbian version to the WP version.

Given that Nokia had virtually no presence, or at least just a small presence with Symbian, in the U.S. for 4+ years, it may take some time for Nokia to get the data they need to update maps and Drive. But since there are more and more Nokia Lumia users coming on board, as long as we report back to them, the better the improvements will be.

Like I said, the maps aren't the problem in my case. The maps are great. They don't need to take time acquiring data, they need to write a decent application to use that data. Some things off the top of my head that are missing in Drive + ... global options for toll-roads, ferries, tunnels, type of route, etc (there's a selector when you're planning a route, but every single time it goes back to the defaults), live rerouting based on traffic data, there's no voice-activation / TellMe integration, etc.

Understood; Again, the Symbian version of Nokia Drive is more robust and includes those features (i.e. toll, ferry, and other options, as well as route preview, etc.) and I am hopeful that Nokia will somehow, and soon, be able to implement those features in the WP version.

Wow, I use Nokia Maps on 2+ year old S60 and Symbian^3 phones, and it's way more integrated than what you all are describing. I was seriously considering getting a Lumia instead of Nexus 4 just because I love the Nokia navigation (particularly on Symbian^3) so much. I can choose walking directions, re-route based on traffic, look up Trip Advisor, etc., all from one app, and no mobile data connection required. There's no City Lens though.
One would think that two years after switching platforms, Nokia would have gotten their one killer-app fully polished on WP8. Personally, I think they would have been at the same place (at least) sales-wise if they had persevered with Symbian and Meego, especially since one could use QT to develop for both. Looks like they've spent the past two years trying to catch-up.

Combining those is a terrible idea for most everyone. It may work for you, but a person taking the train doesn't need driving directions, a person walking down the street and finding a place to eat doesn't need transit and driving directions, etc. Just like on Google, those things are really separate parts of their Maps applications. Having them separate makes people able to use the one they need when they need it, not launch one huge, battery draining program for just a small use.

It doesn't drain battery for an app to have extra features, that's ridiculous.

On top of that, the Nokia Maps application already HAS directions for transit, walking, and driving, and then launches a separate application on top of that for voice directions or scheduling your public transportation trip. Google does it in a single application for Android and for iOS, so I don't know what you're saying about it being "separate parts". But more importantly, having it all split out and showing Nokia Transit, Nokia Drive+, Nokia Maps, Nokia City Lens all as separate entries in the app list just is a confusing experience for the end user... maybe not those of us browsing this site, but the general consumer.

Don't even get me started on how if you launch Nokia Maps from the app list you get Nokia Maps, but if you try to launch maps from a search or Local Scout you end up in Bing Maps, either.

Hello Pino,
I'm quite suprised not finding a live rerouting feature on my Nokia Drive on Lumia 820. I've just switched from Nokia N8 (Symbian) and I can't believe I'm not finding this feature implemented on Nokia Drive by default. This is incredibly important for anyone driving, at any time. I don't want to wait a year hoping. Reason I'm with Nokia is mostly Nokia Drive! Should I go back to the polished Nokia Drive on the Nokia N8?
Without mentioning that Nolkia Walk (in Nokia Maps) has all the fancy detailed type of maps but no vibration or voice notifications. Let alone the possibility of switching off the screen while with Nokia Walk.
Please let me know about Nokia Drive traffic rerouting. I'm deciding if I should return my Nokia Lumia 920 and have very little time left.
Regards

I sure miss "my commute"! I used that feature everyday. Now I'm forced to bring my One-X for traffic rerouting.

I also downloaded and started to use Waze on that phone. Gotta say I'm jealous. I love the police notifications, though, its probably not the safest thing...considering all the other "wazers" are using theirs phones while driving.

Still wondering why they haven't added a list view for all turns in a trip yet. And how about displaying (better yet reading aloud) the end destination address when you arrive and what side of the street it is on? Surely those shouldn't take that long to implement.

I agree with the other's who are saying that Drive Beta+ plus is missing serious basic features. I've been using it for a couple of days, and I just simply cannot use it in offline mode. It loads the location, then stays frozen. OR, it will run for literallt one minute, and then freeze. It renders it unuseable.
Also, where the $%#& are alternate routes? Seriously? I can't look at any alternate routes? That's just total garbage. I might as well just pick up an HTC 8X and download the Navigon app since everyone is drooling over it.

I was told by HTC today that they "are currently reviewing the possibility of releasing Nokia Drive on future releases and updates. Please stay tuned."
My wife has a Nokia and while I prefer my lighter phone, I like the drive app a lot. I hope this goes somewhere.

I have an 8X and would welcome Nokia Drive. Since HTC has no navigation option & windows doesn't pre-install anything with voice-guided turn by turn directions, I took the plunge yesterday on the Navigon app after reading so many good things about it on here yesterday. I must admit that I'm pretty disappointed thus far. There is no turn by turn list (really?) and getting around inside the app is less than intuitive. The music stops (not fades) when the voice speaks, and it doesn't run in the background, meaning you always have to be inside the app to get voice guided directions. My wife has the Garmin app on her iPhone and it blows Navigon out of the water. I regret spending the $30 now and wish I could get a refund. Since Navigon has already included 2 updates since WP8 rolled out, I'm hoping that's a sign of their seriousness to making the app a pleasurable experience and commitment to the platform. Time will tell if they make it better, but I would jump on the Nokia train if it came along. If the 822 weren't so darn ugly on Verizon, I would've gotten it just for the navigation. Its that lacking with HTC, unfortunately.

There really should be some kind of "check for updates" button in the store. I keep having to manually find the app in the store and update it that way. If I didn't keep up with wpcentral I wouldn't know about any of these new updates...God knows when the store would actually find them.

I'm confused. I saw the update, walked away from my phone and came back and it had finished installing all the updates. I then open this article and see that there is a battery saver option. I then open the app and I can't see the battery saver option. I then go back to the store and see that the app was last updated on 10/31/2012. That just doesn't make sense. Has this happened to anyone?

I am sad to say I think the Map and Direction experiance on Windows Phone 8 is worse than on WP7. Who would have thought that integrating The excellent Bing search with Nokia Drive would result in less features. Now, when I search in Bing for an address I no longer get a map as the first result. If I get a text message or e-mail with an address, it takes me to Bing maps with no way to get to Nokia Drive without cutting and pasting. And when I do cut and paste, Nokia Drive is horrible at interpreting addresses.
I would say this is the single biggest disappointment I have had in the 920. I use maps frequently and this just doesn't cut it. Beta or not, Nokia was talking smack at Apple about their maps. They have zero room to talk after appling Windows Phone 8.

Some things do give you that option, but not everything. Click an address in a text message and you end up in Bing Maps. You can get text directions, but you don't get spoken directions and no way to get to Drive without cutting and pasting. If Nokia Drive is supposed to replace Bing Maps, it should be better integrated than this.
Also, I still say that Nokia Drive is not as good at using fuzzy search on addresses. If you give it too much information, it fails. Let's say you give it the full address including city, st and zip code. In my experience, if you give it the wrong city, it will fail in cases where Bing would not. There are too many suburbs around large cities where the Suburb name and the City name are used interchangeably due to post offices. I technically live in the Fort Worth, but my post office is out of Keller.

I definitely think that Drive should be a superset of Maps. You have no satellite view in Drive. I can pin a spot on Maps, but I haven't found a way to pin a spot on Drive. The two don't share favorite locations either.

It just seems very disjointed with both the OS and between the Nokia apps.

How long before we can remore that "Beta" word on the app? Missing lots of features you can even find on Symbian. Thinking to return my Lumia 920 and go back to Symbian while waiting for that Beta to go away.